A WILDLIFE charity has lodged an objection against a coal company's plans to opencast a former colliery site.

The Durham Wildlife Trust is opposed to UK Coal's application for planning permission to work Stony Heap, Leadgate, near Consett.

It is seeking consent to extract 257,088 tonnes for electricity generation from the 121-acre site that once housed Eden Colliery.

But the trust has lodged an objection with Durham County Council.

Conservation manager Terry Coult said: "We have concerns about the destruction of the county wildlife site. The east side of the site is protected because of its wildlife value."

Mr Coult said birds such as snipes, curlews and lapwings feed on the site and there is a healthy newt population at the pond.

He added: "We are concerned that sufficient surveying has not yet been done."

The firm said it will install a treatment scheme and create a nature reserve once mining is completed to prevent water from the former colliery polluting a nearby stream.

Mining and site reclamation would take two years and would be followed by the creation of a 64-acre nature conservation area - including wet grassland and seasonal ponds - and 16 acres of woodland. New bridleways and footpaths and hedgerows would be created as part of a ten-year management plan for nature conservation for the area.

Stuart Oliver, of UK Coal, said: "This scheme has got potential for tremendous environmental benefits.

"We are so aware of the wildlife element we feel that Durham Wildlife Trust are not properly aware of what we are proposing.

"We would like to invite them to a meeting to show them their concerns are not justified and that the scheme will benefit wildlife."

If approved, mining would start in March 2006.

The site will generate 74 lorry movements, using Brooms Lane, the Redwell Hills roundabout and the A692 and A693. Some blasting may be needed.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: ""We are currently preparing a response as part of the consultation process."